Want to know playing line-up of Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 11? Then get the playing XI of KKR team of VIVO Indian Premier League 2018 in this post. As you already know that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has performed consistently amongst all the Indian Premier League seasons. It's the Kolkata franchise presently owned by Knight Riders Sports Private Ltd, Shahrukh Khan, Jay Mehta, and Juhi Chawla. The Kolkata team features a strong batting & bowling with a lot of hitters in the line up which led Kolkata Knight Riders towards the victory twice (in 2012 and 2014) under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir, the opening Indian destructive batsman. However, the team has made a lot of changes in their line up. This time we are going to watch weaker side in relation to their earlier seasons as their most consistent player Gautam Gambhir is not in KKR Team. From ferocious fast bowlers to aggressive batsmen to useful all-rounders, Mumbai has what it takes to go all the way in the competition. We expect that this will not go to destroy their form in IPL and they will successfully defend their IPL title. Kolkata Knight Riders 2018 team is captained by Dinesh Karthik. The official anthem theme song of the team is Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re (we will perform, fight and win!) and the official colors are purple and gold.

From April 8, 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2018 tournament playing against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. They will play a total of 14 Matches in the tournament. As derived from the previous rules, Each team will fight against the same team twice in the league matches. Out of those total of 7 Matches will be held in their home ground Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2018 Team News :

The 2018 IPL Kolkata Knight Riders team comprises of 7 eminent international players and 12 Indian players.

The present captain of Kolkata Knight Riders Squad is Dinesh Karthik and he is in amazing form. Jacques Kallis is the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders 2018 squad.

Chris Lynn was their costliest purchase - they secured him for a whopping Rs 9.6 crore.

KKR have one of the strongest bowling units in the league. With Starc, Johnson, Vinay Kumar and Under-19 star Kamlesh Nagarkoti, their pace-attack look lethal. Starc and Johnson have the experience and pace to rip through any batting lineup in the league. Their spin department can be a cause of envy with Narine, Yadav, and Chawla capable of weaving their magic on any given day. Narine has 95 wickets in 82 IPL games with an economy rate of 6.32. Chawla has picked up 126 wickets and can chip in with the bat as well. Yadav, a left-arm wrist spinner, has also taken 18 wickets in 15 games so far in the IPL. In Nitish Rana and Andre Russell, they have able all-rounders at their disposable as well.

KKR Team Squad IPL-11 2018

Now without Gambhir, KKR have to find a candidate that can replace him. Karthik looks like the like ideal candidate for the job. However, Uthappa and Vinay Kumar too can take up captaincy. Even Starc and Johnson can do the job if required. KKR need to address this issue immediately. Issues are aplenty even though the vision is clear.

Opening Batsmen:

The KKR are likely to go with Robin Uthappa and Chris Lynn as their openers. While Chris Lynn is a proven international opener and can whack the ball any way he wants, Robin Uthappa on the other side is well known for his opening batting abilities in t20 over format. Chris Lynn being the costliest buy for Kolkata Knight Riders Team 2018 in IPL 11, they will try to make use of it the most.

Middle Order:

With destructive batsman at the top, Kolkata Knight Riders also have a power-packed middle-order in the KKR Playing 11 or, KKR Probable 11 with captain Dinesh Karthik leading the way for his team, wearing the purple Kolkata Knight Riders jersey. Other contenders who will also wear the Kolkata Knight Riders jersey in IPL 2018, and are likely to bat in the middle-overs of the KKR playing 11 would be Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell to complete a formidable batting unit.

Bowling Lineup:

Kolkata Knight Riders team 2018 management did well to recruit two world-class foreign pace bowlers in the form of Sunil Narine and Mitchell Starc at the mega-auction in Bangalore. They also have India’s T20 pace spearhead Vinay Kumar to keep things tight in death overs. Former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla will complete the bowling attack for the KKR team 2018.